Thread: Removing defects from epoxy resin scales, a how to

Originally Posted by dnjrboy

Where did you find sandpaper with those grit levels. Did you end up at an autobody supply store or something?

Buy Micro-Mesh Sanding Kit, Finishing Accessories, Sanding & Scraping -

This should come in very helpful. A few questions though...

Is it absolutely necessary to go all the way up to 12k grit? With CA and Poly, I'd go to 2000 grit then polish with simichrome and it would be alright.

Also, I find when I sand epoxy at grits past 1000, the paper loads up very quickly. It's not as bad wet sanding, but I still get loading. Do you have the same problem? It's not that loading is a huge problem, it's just that if I were to get micromesh sandpaper (which is much more expensive), I don't think it would be too economical if every time I used a sheet it loaded up and I had to get rid of it.

That is why you have to keep them wet. It keeps the loading to a minimum. I sand them with a stream of water trickling on them all the time. I have not had a problem with the micromesh loading up. If your resin is still semi soft then it will load up.

Epoxy with 2000 grit is still very cloudy. You could buff it beyond that point but it would take a lot more work than simply sanding up through the ultra high grits then a quick buff to restore the ultra gloss finish.

Once they are put together, they look like this.

Another quick question here... I was just wondering if it's safe to start at a lower grit than 1200? As in, would it cause any effects that would prohibit attaining the ultra high gloss? I'm guessing as long as your sand through each grit thoroughly, that it is indeed safe, but I'd just like to make sure.

I suppose you could. Something like 800 grit would cut the resin very fast. You run a big risk of sanding through the resin before you get to the last grit.

Thanks for the info. I think I should be alright though. After having learned my lesson about sanding through so many times with CA, I should be able to handle it with epoxy